Dave Meltzer 5+ star rated matches from WWE 2019

Dave Meltzer's pro wrestling evaluation process, wherein he uses a five-point rating system to critically analyze matches and rank them in order of these ratings, is one of the most interesting talking points in the wrestling world. His success as a wrestling writer has helped strengthen the media's role in covering professional wrestling.

There have been multiple Meltzer-rated 5-star matches in WWE in the past. Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart at Summerslam 1994 received the top honors, while the journalist also awarded a full five stars to C.M Punk vs. John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.

This year, though, the company raised the bar and put together not one, not two, but three matches that broke his five-star rating system.

As 2019 comes to an end, let us revisit the WWE matches Dave Meltzer awarded more than a full five stars this year:

#3 Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole (NXT TakeOver: New York)

During the lead up to WrestleMania 35, NXT blessed the wrestling world with one of the finest WWE PPVs in a long time. NXT TakeOver: New York received universal acclaim for its high-class wrestling and for beautifully delivering the narrative.

In the main event, Johnny Gargano took on Adam Cole in a two-out-of-three falls match for the vacant NXT Championship and what transpired was a beautiful display of art. Gargano has developed quite a reputation for delivering 5-star performances in the eyes of Meltzer, and history repeated itself as he managed another spectacular performance opposite arch-nemesis Cole.

In the match, Cole notched up the first pinfall with a Last Shot while Gargano followed it up with a submission pinfall. Tied at 1-1, Gargano managed to trap Cole in the Garga-No-Escape to win the belt.

The match got a 5.5 from Meltzer, meaning that it was the first from WWE to have broken his five-star rating system.

#2 Walter vs. Tyler Bate (NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff)

Walter vs. Tyler Bate was simply terrific. The ultimate showdown between the two men took place at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff and earned worldwide praise for the quality of wrestling on display.

After the PPV, WWE's UK promotion established itself as an equal competitor to the other promotions by delivering one of the best matches of the year. For his performance in the match, the 22-year-old Bate may have become the youngest wrestler in the history of sports entertainment to receive more than a full five stars (5.25) from Dave Meltzer.

The crowd during the main event for the NXT UK Championship was eccentric. Walter, the reigning champion, defeated Bate after 42 minutes of breathtaking action and cemented his position as the top heel of the company. Both the superstars defied the odds in what was a match of a lifetime. The performance got praised all around the world and Meltzer's rating of 5.25 was surely the icing on the cake.

#1 Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: XXV)

Cole and Gargano clashed once again at NXT TakeOver: XXV for the NXT Championship in what can only be called a classic. The former defeated the latter and got his hands on the coveted belt, getting his revenge after the defeat in New York and celebrating with the rest of his mates from the Undisputed Era in the ring at the end of the match. The narrative was brilliant, the crowd was cheerful, both the superstars put their everything on the line, and what resulted was a match that earned 5.25 stars from Dave Meltzer.

There were plenty of great moments in this match. It was a 32-minute long wrestling spectacle. Both the Superstars followed up their incredible performance from NXT TakeOver: New York with another classic at this PPV and the match, quite rightly, received worldwide recognition and praise.